Intro
Until a while ago, Samsung had a budget Galaxy J series. Now it's been replaced with the Galaxy M - devices that aren't expensive, feature mid-range processors and basic specs. The Galaxy M21 fits that description.
Before reading the full review, you can familiarize yourself with the detailed Samsung Galaxy M21 specs or watch the video below the article.
Specifications
- Release date: 2020, March 18
- Colors: Midnight Blue, Raven Black
- Dimensions: 159 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm.
- Weight: 188 g.
- Screen: 6.4" inc, 1080 x 2340, Super AMOLED
- Camera : Triple, 48MP
- Chipset: Exynos 9611 (10nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
- Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
- Battery: 6000, Non-removable Li-Po
- Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Operating system: Android 10.0; One UI 2
- Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Design
The Galaxy M21 is a copy of the M31, but there are quite a few differences with the previous M20 model. Its casing is slightly larger. The dimensions of the Galaxy M21 are 159 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm. The weight is also increased - 188 grams. A distinctive feature of the Galaxy M21 is the three-camera unit.
The casing is distinguished by the fact that the front side is made of glass and the back cover is made of molded plastic. The entire smartphone has a glossy finish. Due to this, scratches may appear on it over time. We recommend getting a case for it.
Display
Compared to the M20, the M21 has a slightly larger screen. Its diagonal is now 6.4 inches. The resolution is 2340 x 1080 pixels. The aspect ratio - 19.5:9. The bottom bezel is significantly larger than the others.
The color rendering of the Super AMOLED display practically coincides with that of the older model. The maximum brightness is 426 cd/sqm. The minimum is 2 cd/sqm.
Scanners
For the sake of safety and quick system access, the Galaxy M21 has received a front-facing camera that is tasked with scanning the device owner's face. It works well for her. In the dark, the smartphone slightly increases the brightness level. This helps the unlocking system work smoothly.
The fingerprint scanner also works fast and accurately enough.
Performance
At the heart of the Galaxy M21 lies an 8-core Exynos 9611 processor with a Mali-G72 video accelerator. The user can choose between two versions - 4/64 GB and 6/128 GB. The device works with two SIM cards and a memory card. There is an NFC module.
Cameras
Galaxy M21, as already mentioned, has a main camera consisting of three sensors. The main one is 48 MP with an f/2.0 aperture, the auxiliary one is 5 MP with f/2.2 and measures the depth of the scene, and the third one is an ultra-wide 8 MP with f/2.2.
The daytime shots turn out to be of satisfactory quality for this class of phones.
The Galaxy M21 is capable of recording video up to 4K resolution, but in this case the ultra-wide camera can't be used and image stabilization will be absent. Therefore, it is desirable to shoot in FullHD.
The selfie camera is 20 MP with an aperture of ƒ/2.2.
Autonomous operation
The battery capacity of the Galaxy M21 is an impressive 6000 mAh. Considering the other features of the model, the power consumption is similar to that of the M31. Not to be blunt, we immediately give an indicative autonomous operation. In daily use, the battery will discharge after a day or two. Do you rely too much on social networks, messengers, games and heavy applications, keep the charger handy.
Samsung has introduced fast charging technology on the Galaxy M21. So in just 2 hours and 30 minutes, you'll have a fully recharged phone.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy M21 has changed in a good direction over its predecessor. Its main differences are seen in the cameras, RAM and dimensions. By today's standards, the Galaxy M21 is a good investment for undemanding users.
Samsung Galaxy M21 video review
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on our team's personal experience with the Samsung Galaxy M21 and third-party sources. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and reliable information, readers should keep in mind that this is a subjective assessment. The writing of this article was not paid for or sponsored by Samsung.
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